Usher

This ministry is open to all parishioners; men and women; senior citizen, parent and teenager. Ushers are friendly people who welcome everyone. Their faith enables them to see Christ's presence in individuals and in the gathered community of believers. 
Their primary duties and responsibilities include greeting and welcoming people as they enter the church, help them to find seats, taking up the collection and wishing everyone a good day at the conclusion of the Eucharistic Celebration.

A little history about this ministry!
The ministry of ushers is the oldest lay ministry in the Catholic Church. The ushers of today have descended from a long line of people of God who have gone before them. During the time of Christ, the doorkeepers of the temple numbered in the hundreds and were the forerunners of today's ushers. The more immediate predecessor of today's usher can be found in the clerical order of porter, instituted in the 3rd Century A.D. During those times, it was the duty of the porters or ushers to guard the door of the church against any intruders who might disturb the service.

The porter duties were so important that they came to be included in the rite of ordination, where they were specified as: "to ring the bells, open the church and sacristy, to open the book for the preacher." In 1972 Pope Paul VI abolished the order of porter and this important task was given over to the laity.

If you are interested in serving as an Usher at St. Albert, please contact George Lahr at 763-497-8263 or the Parish Office at 763-497-2474.